§ 15. Sir RANDOLF BAKERasked the Secretary of State for War when the new rifle will be issued to the Regular Forces?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)No pattern of new rifle can be finally approved until the result is known of the trial of the rifles which are about to be issued to the troops for that purpose. No date for the issue of a new rifle can, therefore, be stated at present.
§ 16. Sir RANDOLF BAKERasked whether the new Army rifle is to have a modified form of Mauser bolt; if so, who was the inventor of this bolt; and what is the cost of manufacturing the ordinary Mauser bolt and the new one?
§ Colonel SEELYThere are features in the bolt of the experimental rifle which are similar to those in the Mauser pattern of bolt. The bolt was designed in the Royal Small Arms Factory. No information is available regarding the cost of the Mauser pattern bolt, and no comparison with the new bolt is, therefore, practicable.